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I had the good fortune to spend the fall of 2022 in Paris. I went to finish the research on my novel Through Her Lens. In the hours spent not researching or writing, I walked. More to the point, I wandered the streets of this glorious city. In the past my leisure time in big cities has been spent striking up conversations with the locals to learn about their lives or some treasure not bulleted in every travel guide. Alas, I do not speak French which made my typical practice impossible. Instead, I engaged the city with my feet, my eyes, a Polaroid camera and my iPhone on airplane mode. Unless otherwise committed, I wanted to get lost in the textures, smells, light, and purposefully placed objects that make up Paris. And what a joy it was, finding the magic in the ordinary details that decorate my favorite city.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered the French slang word that perfectly described my occupation—Flâneuse. I drifted up and down the lanes, alleys, streets and boulevards that crisscross and curve around the intentional architecture of Haussmann. I found a joy I had lost during the lock downs of the pandemic in the freedom to roam in and through crowds. I returned to my love of the noise, chaos and pace of a densely packed place. My mind flooded with ideas that pushed me further into my new world of strangers and fresh discoveries. It awakened my love of the ordinary, especially when created by hand with a particular attention to detail.

Now I invite you to join me in my ambling. I hope you find as many surprises as I did.